About Us
Mission 360 was founded by two FIDE Masters, Kevin Pan and Eric Li, in 2021 with the vision to democratize chess and STEM education in order to improve diversity and inclusion within these fields.
FM Kevin Pan, Founder and President
Biography and Chess Achievements
International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Kevin Pan is a top 10 ranked 16-year-old in the US.
2018 National Elementary Champion and top 10 finish in 2019/2021 National Scholastic Championships
Captain of school team to represent US in World School Team Tournament as part of Dubai World Expo 2020.
National 3rd place, 2022 National K12 Quick Championship
10-time California state champion
Member of US Chess All American Team in 2015 and qualified to represent USA in World Youth Championship many times.
Captain and led his school chess team to national team champion in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018!
Outside of chess, Kevin is a varsity tennis player and enjoys cooking, writing, programming and playing video games.
Kevin Pan teaching @ MSJE Chess
Volunteering Achievements
Kevin has been devoting his time and efforts to chess and STEM education since 2019.
Head coach of MSJ elementary school chess team (National team champion many times)
Senior coach for FemChess, aiming to remove gender disparity in chess
Math Olympiad coach
STEM subject tutors for disadvantaged kids
Teaching Assistant for Data Science in Action summer camp
President's Volunteering Service Gold Award in 2020 , 2021, 2022.
IM-Elect Eric Li, Founder and President
Eric Li @ Scouting
Biography and Chess Achievements
International Master-Elect Eric Yuhan Li
US Chess Federation All-America Chess Team, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
California Super States K-12 Champion, 2022, 2024
State Champion of CA State Open Championship, 2022
Led the team and won 3rd place of 2019 US Amateur Team Championship-West
North American Youth Chess Championship, Silver Medalist, 2018
Pan American Youth Chess Championships, Gold Medalist, 2017
Pan American Youth Chess Blitz Championships, Silver Medalist, 2017
CA and NJ Grade Champion, 2017, 2015
First place in the 51st Greater NY Scholastic Primary Championship sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation, 2017
Qualified to represent USA in World Youth Championship many times
Achieved NM title at 10 and FM title at 12.
Chess coach and volunteer for after-school program since 2021. Private chess coach since 2022
Outside of chess, Eric enjoys Scouting America activities, cooking, playing music and video games.
Ashley Pang, Co-President
2018 World Cadets Chess Championship Co-Third Place
National Champion in the 2017 North American All Girls Championship
North American Youth Champion 2016
State champion in the 2021 CalChess Women's State Championship
Qualified to be on Team USA for the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
One of top boards for school team to represent US in World School Team Tournament as part of Dubai World Expo 2020
Nicholas Weng, Vice President
Nicholas is currently a junior at Gunn High School and has played chess for the last 10 years. He started volunteering at Mission360 in 2022 and also enjoys math and music.
Jeffery Wang, Web Development Officer
Qualified to be on Team USA 2024
CalChess Barber National Representative 2024
FIDE Candidate Master, 2024
North America Youth Chess Championship 2nd place for U14, 2023
USCF National Master, 2023
2019 Kirshner Cup Championship, Age 4-9 Champion
Aaron Xuli Dai, Resident Tournament Director
A high school sophomore and a US Chess Expert with peak rating of 2135.
Has been playing chess since he was 8 years old, and competitively since he was 9 years old.
He was introduced to chess after he moved from China to America, and his parents found a place for him on the weekends to play chess, and his interest in chess grew. He went to group lessons at a place in Saratoga, and started playing in tournaments.
Aaron has been working hard to become an experienced Tournament Director.